The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-07-01


husband Tom King, colored. Th'
calamity was then charitably as
cribed to culpable carelesness. The
slayer admitted the killing but his
version of accident was taken fo
the while, because his well feigneC
grief forbid the idea of design. Hi
were crocodile tears, and the subse'
quent: patient and thorough exami
Gation of a cerons unyeile,
a abrutal tragedy, enacted in she
presence of little children, the off
spring of the hapless pair.
A Coroners jury was sGamoned
and proceeded to the scene of thu
murder, about two miles South
from the court house The exami-
nation began about 5 o'clock We'd
nesday afternoon,and was continued
through in the until about 5
o'clock yesterday afternoon when
the verdict published below was
rendred.
We give the following abstract Of
the testimony:
Jane Bailey, sworn and testafes:
Lives within 100 yards of Kings
house; went over to Kings house to
borrow meat; when I got in yard
heard quarrelling; did not go in,
went back home, didn't hear the
gun go off, heard quarrelling about
meal, knew of no fuss previous, but
had known of jealousy by wife
against King. bnt they seemed TO
get along amicably.
Maria Clayton, sworn and says:
heard gun, stepped outside of the
door; heard King holler; she ran to
Kings house; gun had gone off
and killed Maggie" When che got to
house found Maggie on the floor
dead, infant 2 years old on the bed
covered with blood. Tom told her
he laid gun on tie bed; it went of,
witness is sister to deceased. Tomwas
always foolishly fond,about his wife,
sister was cross at times to Tom; had
advised her to be patient; he might
leave her; never knew them to fight;
had quarrels; had known Toms
wife to ask him to load gun; had
known of jealousy but had heard
Tom had given cause for it.
Inc oldest child, 5 years old, says
she went to Albert Rowleys, 100
yards off, to get meal. Left mother
and father quarreliing. AS she
reached RowleY's heard the gun.
Another child, girl 3 or 4 years
old, in the house at the time, said
"Papa took the gun down from the
head of the bed. pointed it at mama
and shat.
p Albert Rowley, COL, sworn and
testified was in his house, heard re.
port of the gun, ran out the back
way; looked toward Kings, and all
round for at least two minutes; was
satisfi- d no one was in sight, while
in the act of turning to go back in
house King ran out of his house, ex-
"Oh Albert Albert!
my gun has gone off and
killed Maggie" Was first one to be
seen. When he got to house, Tom
was crying aLd wringing his hands.
Witness entered the house, ran to
the deceased, lying on the floor.
Called'to her to know what was the
matter. All he noticed was moves
ment of the muscles of the shoulder.
She was dead. Then he came to the
city to notify the authorities. Tom
wanted to come, but did not. At
same time witness instructed that
the body be not removed from its
position. Witness knew of no jeal-
ousy. Worked together with King,
Miles Carter sworn and testified
Wss second to get there p; the gun
was on the bed, the muzzle towards
the deceased. Had known them 3
years. Had passed Toms 20 min
utes before the shooting. Had heard
Toms wife was jealous.
jury ObseTUotions.-The house lies
North and South, one room. door
on each side. Northeast and south~
east corners were beds; stove to right
of centre of house, chair on which
the deceased was sitting at time of
death almost behind stove, between
the bed and the gun; the feet of de>
ceased near the door, head near the
south door. After investigation they
turned the corpse over; a large knife
was found; it seemed to drop from
the wound; large pool of blood was
on the floor; the knife had been in-
serted six inches in the flesh; the
point was covered with blood, dried,
marking the depth of incision; the
chin, throat and vocal organs were
blown away, and incision showed
that the load or knife had gone
down the IL Ioat.
The jury adjourned until 8 u, m.
yesterday morning, and then re-
turned to the spot, accompanied by
DR., A. Watson to assist in the post
mortem examination.
The jury at $50 p. m. formed the
following verdict:
STATE OF NORTH CARoLlNA,l
Buncombe county. !
Be eitremembered, tha- on this the 29ih
day of June, 1887, /, I. A. Harris, Coro
nef OF the county of Buncombe. attended
by q jury of good and lawful men. viz
Theodore Hobgood, foreman. Henry
Reynolds, r. A. Hunter, T. K. Davis, H.